A Sonic Odyssey Through Memories and Emotions
Holly
North
NO CITY NO SEA
Born Baltic coast, Germany · Greifswald · New York · Berlin · Ki Records
He blends cello, piano and bass with dynamic electronic beats, in a never-ending digital-analog love affair. His album is an ode to the now and the never, a delicate balance between broken glass and rising flowers.
Hailing from the Baltic coast, born into a family of musicians, Holly North was immersed in music throughout his childhood. At age seven, he was encouraged to learn the cello, before venturing onto the piano and electric bass during his teenage years. Alongside an early musical education, he also experienced a political one, and credits living in Greifswald with leading him to become politically and socially conscious at a young age. Following a stint in New York, he gained familiarity with the electronic music scene and quickly built a name for himself via a string of celebrated releases, including his 2021 single Youth, which received over one million streams on Spotify alone, before joining Christian Loffler’s Ki Records.
NO CITY NO SEA emerges from a profound exploration of the ceaseless dialogue between memories and present emotions. Holly takes us on a journey where the past and present coexist, entwined in an ambivalent partnership. The album encapsulates a sonic ambiguity, a delicate balance between broken glass and rising flowers, between pop and club influences. It is an ode to the now and the never, defying conventions while maintaining a distinct aesthetic and style.
Reflecting on his inspirations, Holly draws creative energy from classical approaches to music. The album rejects the mundane and seeks innovation, challenging the norm of simply producing what works. Embracing the spirit of classical composers who thrived on variations, he finds inspiration in the unpredictability of classical music, a quality mirroring the nuances of real life and genuine emotions. NO CITY NO SEA becomes a testament to breaking free from techno drops that merely conform to expectations.
The album was not rooted in a preconceived LP format; it evolved organically over two years. Holly sketches ideas swiftly, creating a compilation of concrete yet raw arrangements. The music then undergoes a transformative phase where it is lived and tested in various daily settings. This dynamic process reveals which ideas should be discarded and where new ones should take root. For Holly, the creative journey is characterised by implementing new ideas until the very end, sometimes crafting entire sections right before the mastering phase.
The album’s sonic palette is rich and diverse, featuring his vocals for the first time. The comfort of playing with vocal melodies that replace initial synth leads adds a distinctive layer to the tracks. He seamlessly integrates his cello alongside synthesisers and electronic bass, resulting in a dynamic blend.
“NO CITY NO SEA encapsulates a never-ending digital-analog love affair, an exploration of sound that pushes boundaries and defies the conventions of contemporary music.”
We can never create serious art if we are not aware.
“When talking about new trends, us creatives in the so-called West should never forget that the technological innovations that surround us, and that many understand as progress, have always had the potential to carry horrific consequences for other parts of the planet. I am convinced that for us privileged, creative people who have always rather benefited from this hyper-capitalism than suffered from it, it is important to understand that we can never create serious art if we are not aware of the exploitative nature of modern capitalism, in which the creative industry is a big part.”
“Of these new trends, social media probably affects me the most. As a musician, I most probably need to have it to become known, to be known, and to remain known. And of course, it does take a lot of time and energy from what usually would go into creative work. Hearing that AI increasingly has the power to replace producers, I am convinced it will, if we do not change our taste in music. If we stay so predictable in what we like, algorithms will do the work for our brains, as we can already see in the whole streaming machinery.”
This is only the beginning.
“Probably all that comes with it. I am meeting new people, playing new shows, and having the possibility to share my thoughts on the last two years. I am currently working on a new live show integrating a drummer into my shows, to bridge different genres in more of a concert setting. As I do not like when live music sounds like the recording we know from Spotify, I want to perform NO CITY NO SEA live and live only, whether in a small, sweaty club, a big festival stage, or in a concert hall.”
“But what excites me most about my new music is the fact that I know this is only the beginning of many other projects, which is probably why I am also so relaxed about the success of the album. There is so much more to come, and this album is just a little, yet beautiful piece of the puzzle.”
Meet me on the dancefloor.
“I just had some debut international shows in Paris and London and I am looking forward to the shows in Berlin and Madrid coming up. And of course, I would love to meet some of your readers on the dancefloor!”
“This album is just a little, yet beautiful piece of the puzzle.”
Antakly Projects, originally Ninu Nina, has been in conversation with the most inspiring voices in art, photography, design and culture since 2003. Interview by Leila Antakly. Photo Levin Vogt. Holly North carries a cello into the club and makes the whole room remember something they cannot name.
All music © Holly North. Thank you to Holly for the conversation.
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Solitude yet not alone. ✦